Great Mangaka

"What astonishing drawing skills!"

In an apartment, professional critic Ryohei sighed with red eyes after reading "Five Centimeters Per Second."

He had a unique view of this manga, different from Rina's. Mirai-sensei's works have always been characterized by their beautiful pictorial style. In this new work, Ryohei could still appreciate the exquisite characters, beautiful backgrounds, excellent light and shadow lines, and other iconic features of Mirai-sensei, but at the same time, he also perceived something uncommon in his previous works: delicacy.

A flower, an expression, or even a tear: "Five Centimeters Per Second" is very delicate. It narrates with details, and the image is exquisite, like the crystalline and fragile crystal world in the hands of the young writer.

The ideas expressed in this manga are more akin to a literary work full of philosophy. The scene where Takaki and Akari look at each other at the end encapsulates the essence of the entire manga.

Akari's ring and Takaki's smile represent their liberation from the shackles of the past. Under the cherry blossom rain, they both finally took different paths. The two receding figures contained the sadness of having loved but not being able to have it, but rather the vision of a happy future.

What Mirai-sensei truly wanted to convey was that feelings, once pure, would not disappear with the passage of time. Even if this kind of feeling was not completed for various reasons, it would still remain a beautiful memory in the heart.

However, despite understanding this,

setting aside his identity as a commentator, Ryohei couldn't help but cry: "Why can't they be together?"

No matter what ideas "Five Centimeters Per Second" expresses, its ending is unbearable. People seek beauty. Ryohei would prefer this manga to lose its ideological character and for Takaki and Akari to be together.

So, when he opened the comments and saw someone protesting, he joined in.

In the review section, late at night, readers cried to each other. Thousands of readers didn't want to sleep and kept posting reviews asking Mirai-sensei to change the ending. But that damn Mirai-sensei hasn't appeared since he published the manga, which made people hate him to the core.

"My tears have dried up, can someone lend me some tissues?"

"[Expression: tissues], here, sister, let's wait here for Mirai-sensei to come out. If he doesn't change the ending, I won't read his works again, wow!... Why can't Takaki and Akari be together? I'm crying again."

"Magazine next door, it's too cruel, minus 320 likes, this rhythm is wrong! Mirai-sensei has finished two works: The Legend of Wukong and Five Centimeters Per Second, both tragedies. In Detective Conan, which is still being serialized, Conan goes from a high school student to a child, and the heroine is still a high school student. Before, it seemed very funny, but now think about it..."

"Damn it, Inuyasha also has many tragic nuances. Does that mean Mirai-sensei is a professional tragedian?"

"Damn it, the two above, stop talking nonsense! This is not funny! I was instantly scared to death!"

Ryohei saw these comments and trembled from head to toe, almost jumping. 'Is Mirai-sensei a professional tragedian? If so, wouldn't his readers be tortured to death?'

But it wasn't right. Suddenly, Ryohei had an idea. He felt strange. 'Why would Mirai-sensei publish a sad manga in the middle of the night? Why not trust Hinotori Publishing to publish it?'

'Publishing online is definitely not as profitable as publishing physically.'

The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong, so he posted his doubts online.

"..."

"Now that you mention it, it's really abnormal."

"I also think it's abnormal. Mirai-sensei earns more money from royalties, and what he receives online are just tips. There's no reason for him not to publish it physically, unless Hinotori Publishing doesn't allow him to."

Other readers began to debate it, and then more and more speculations arose. Many people thought of "Mirai-sensei's Guidance Room" from last week.

"Do you think it's because of Mirai-sensei's Guidance Room? I heard that Gundam and Magical Girls were themes that Mirai-sensei came up with, but the drawings were done by other artists. Could that be why? Is Hinotori Publishing deliberately making things difficult for Mirai-sensei and preventing him from publishing new manga?"

"Yes, it makes sense! Hinotori Publishing made things difficult for Mirai-sensei, causing him unhappiness, which is why they published such a heartbreaking manga!"

"What? The tragedy of Five Centimeters Per Second is caused by Hinotori Publishing?"

"Damn, you bastard...! Tomorrow I'm going to Hinotori Publishing with a torch to find out! Anyone who dares to bully Mirai-sensei, I'll make them publicly apologize!"

"I'm going too. No wonder Mirai-sensei didn't come out. Tomorrow I'll go protest. If Mirai-sensei doesn't explain himself, I won't give up!"

"Let's form a group!"

Ryohei's book review turned into a scandal. Readers, severely tormented by "Five Centimeters Per Second," found an escape route. Excited, they formed groups to go to Hinotori Publishing to protest.

Early Saturday morning, these readers got off buses and taxis, and cars filled the plaza. Hundreds of people blocked the entrance of Hinotori Publishing.

"Is Hinotori Publishing making things difficult for Mirai-sensei? We protest and demand an explanation!"

"I'm circling in the snow, begging Mirai-sensei to redraw the ending of Five Centimeters Per Second!"

"Mirai-sensei, you are the best artist of love stories. We will beat anyone who criticizes you for not knowing how to draw love stories. Please, don't be so harsh and please, allow the lovers to finally marry!"

They held up cardboard signs with written protests, their eyes red, and frightened passersby. Those who didn't know thought it was a gang demonstration.

The media, so excited, sent reporters to interview them.

The others didn't delay at all. When Tsukimoto Genji received the news, the matter had already become significant.

He asked his wife to wake up Alice. Alice, who wanted to take a day off, entered the living room and saw that Tsukimoto Genji was pale.

"Dad, what's wrong?"

Alice didn't understand what was happening.

"Alice, where is Mirai-sensei? Where is he now?!"

Tsukimoto Genji asked, anxious. Kurosawa couldn't find Mirai-sensei, and now Alice was the only one who could find him. Hinotori faced many problems this time. If Mirai-sensei didn't come out to explain, the company's reputation could be ruined.

"Are you referring to Takumi?"

Alice asked, yawning. "He finished his work this week. It seems he went to the beach with Hirano-sensei to practice piano today..."

"To the beach?"

Tsukimoto Genji asked with his eyes lit up. "Which beach! Help me contact him and ask him to come back immediately! Immediately!"

"Oh!"

Tsukimoto Genji yelled at Alice. Alice was stunned for a moment, then took out her mobile phone and called.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is turned off."

"..."

- - - -

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